🔗 Share this article France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom. This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements. French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians. "It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel." Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life. Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels. The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel. Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented. Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past. The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment. Related Updates Why Britain can't just return migrants to French territory France withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security